BR Ambedkar Open University backtracks on UG courses in Urdu

HYDERABAD: Losing her father while she was a child, Amina Sheik (name changed on request) had never thought she would be able to study. On Tuesday, when she went to pay her fees, she was in for a rude shock when she was told that her admission stands cancelled because the University was no longer offering courses in Urdu. 

The 20-year-old along with two other students were told that they could not get admission in the UG programme because the varsity did not offer courses under Urdu. Ironically, the first phase of eligibility test conducted on March 26 and the second one which will be held on August 6 both list Urdu. There is no notification to this effect on the website either.

And with admission process already underway students, a majority of whom are from the marginalised section of the society are worried lot. “It’s a ridiculous step and a regressive decision. They have studied Urdu as their medium of instruction but are now expected to choose between Telugu or English,” said Lubna Sarwath, an education activist. She has written to the VC and education minister.

A counsellor with a BRAOU study centre in Kadapa said that in two centres of there are almost 60 students take up Urdu and this time they are very worried about their future prospects. Both Lubna and Sharib highlighted that the decision will particularly hit the female students, many of whom are married.